Expand Food Access Through Farm to Families Funding and Establishing Pre-Release SNAP Applications
Expand Food Access Through Farm to Families Funding and Establishing Pre-Release SNAP Applications
This week we have two bills to support a more equitable and regenerative food future for Hawaiʻi through supporting Food Banks sourcing locally grown food and authorizing pre-release applications for SNAP for inmates nearing release.
A hearing of the House Committee on Finance will hear these two bills on Feb. 26th at 2:00 pm in Conference Room 308 (and virtually). Testimony is due today, Wednesday Feb. 25th (although late testimony is still accepted).
Sorry for the late notice. Please take a moment to submit written testimonies for those bills you can!
If you have not done so already you will need to create an account with the Hawaiʻi State Legislature website to submit testimony.
Support HB 2208 HD1:
What Does This Bill Do?
Establishes the Hawaiʻi Farm to Families Program to alleviate food shortages in the State.
Why Is This Important? Sample Testimony:
Please support HB 2208 HD1. The statistics around food insecurity in Hawaiʻi are staggering. One in three households in Hawaii report experiencing food insecurity. Nearly half (46%) of ALICE households lack consistent access to food. Increasing the ability of food banks to purchase locally grown food is a win-win for our communities and farmers. One major challenge local farmers face is access to markets. This will help grow our local food and agriculture economy while providing our communities with nutritious food. As the cost of imports continues to increase, investing in our local food economy will help bolster our local production and food security in the long term.
Preparing Hawaiʻi’s families in the wake of disaster, food banks rely almost exclusively on private donations and grants, even though local governments rely heavily on them during times of crisis. The Farm to Families program would provide funding for purchasing from local farmers, improving emergency food access for families and opening up a local market for farmers during times of economic crisis.
Mahalo for your consideration!
Your Name, Town
Support HB 1518 HD1: Pre-Release Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Application Process
What Does This Bill Do?
Establishes a pre-release Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) application process for inmates nearing release.
Why Is This Important? Sample Testimony:
Please support HB 1518.
Food security is a critical component of financial stability and, food security, is an issue affecting one in three households in Hawaiʻi. Within the households on island, federal law permanently disqualifies household members convicted of a federal or state felony offense involving the possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance from access to SNAP and TANF benefits.
To strengthen the financial security of formerly incarcerated individuals, the United States Department of Agriculture established a prisoner pre-release supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) administrative waiver, which allows states to process SNAP applications and conduct eligibility interviews for individuals who are about to be released from prison or jail.
The purpose of the waiver is to reduce recidivism by strengthening food security for individuals reentering the community after correctional confinement.
Through this bill, Hawaiʻi could join thirteen other states which have created a waiver to accept pre-release SNAP applications, according to the United States Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service.
Establishing this process would require the department of human services to seek a federal waiver to establish a pre-release SNAP application process for inmates nearing release. This would also allow all individuals convicted of an offense involving the possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance to apply for SNAP benefits, regardless of treatment status.
